F1 will trial sprint qualifying for t🌳he first time at Silverstone with a 100km race on Saturday afternoon taking place to determine the grid for Sunday’s main event.

The ne𒈔w format🔯 means there is just one practice session ahead of qualifying on Friday, giving teams limited time to get their cars prepared.

Ahead of the ra💛ce at Silverstone, B🥀ottas says Mercedes did a “detailed preparation” in terms of car setup in the lead up to the weekend due to the change in format.

“Slightly, it’s a bit more crucial in terms of the setup of the car, as we only have one session to find the setup and then we’re stuck with it for the rest o𓂃f the weekend,” Bottas said.

“Both Lewis and I were in the simulator earlier this week, trying different approaches. I think now we have a pretty good understanding, in theory, on how we should start the weekend, in terms of setup. I wou♒ld say we took a bit more of a detailed preparation, in terms of setup itself than in other weekends because we won’t have three free practice sessions to find the best balance.”

Mercedes has historically fared well at Silverstone, winning seven of the last nine races at the British💙 venue.

It is also bringing its first substantial upgr🔜ade of the season to this weekend’s race, but Bottas has played down the significance of it.

“I can’t put a precise number, it’s nothing huge but it’s nothing small either. We’ll see, obviously tomorrow we’ll find ꧋out how fast the car is on single-lap pace,” Bottas added. “I feel like this year it’s for sure a bit different, Red Bull has been quickꦛ everywhere, no matter which track, so far, this year.

“So, we’re definitely not expecting to come here and to be suddenly on top, but of course w𒆙e’d like to think that we’re, hopefully, in better form than in Austria. We have some new bits in the car that, hopefully, will bring us closer to Red Bull, but I don’t think we’re going to be on pole by one second, like last year, but I hope we can fight for the pole.”